Readily expandable pedestal construction for one or more seating units



June 6, 1967 G. KASPARIAN 3,323,833

READILY EXPANDABLE PEDESTAL CONSTRUCTION FOR ONE OR MORE SEATING UNITS Original Filed May 5, 1964 1 n 12 2-12 I I 3 v 32 I; 52 I 2 INVENTOR. 650865 4495, 404

United States Patent 3,323,833 READILY EXPANDABLE PEDESTAL CONSTRUC- TEGN FUR GNE OR MORE SEATING UNITS George Kaspar-flan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Kasparians, inc Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation of California Continuation of application Ser. No. 364,992, May 5, 196 This application July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 472,396 Claims. (Cl. 297--248) This is a continuation of the co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 364,992, filed May 5, 1964, now abandoned, relating to support pedestals and, more specifically, to a novel pedestal construction particularly useful in supporting seating units having a single support spindle.

Various forms of pedestals have been employed over the years in the furniture industry to support individual items of furniture. The pedestal bases for conventional swivel and non-swiveling chairs are well-known illustrations. For durability, lightweight and ease of maintenance, aluminum or other metal pedestal base furniture is very much preferred. While aluminum pedestal base furniture is quite common, furniture which is capable of being readily expanded in seating capacity or surface capacity (as in tables) to any desired length or configuration is lacking in the industry. To my knowledge, there is no simple and inexpensive means for ready assembly and disassembly of any multiple number of pedestal type bases for multiple seating units, tables and benches of varying length, and other variable seating. Such variable seating and table length variation, however, is very useful in lobbies, reception areas, airports and the like.

' In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel furniture pedestal structure which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 'a sturdy support structure which is readily expandable to support one or more separate seating units.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy support pedestal which is easy to assemble and disassemble for shipping or storage in a compact package and for rapid assembly at its location of actual use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a support pedestal in which the coupling elements for the pedestal are concealed to provide a smooth pleasing exterior appearance for the pedestal The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a multiple swivel chair assembly employing the pedestal construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial front view of the pedestal construction with portions broken away to reveal the inner coupling means of the pedestal; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the pedestal construction as viewed along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

The two seating units illustrated in FIGURE 1 include, by way of example only, a pair of seats each having a vertical support spindle post 12 coupled thereto and supported at its lower end by the pedestal construction 14 of the present invention.

Generally speaking, the pedestal construction 14 includes a plurality of vertically extending columns 16, one

3,323,833 Patented June 6, 1967 associated with each seat 10 and each including a main, vertically extending opening or cavity 18 for receiving a chair spindle 12. The columns 16 are coupled together by a cross-piece 22 while the seats are prevented from tipping over by plurality of right-angularly separated side legs 24 extending from the sides of the columns. Glides 26 coupled to the lower surfaces of the side legs 24 support the legs slightly above the floor.

Thus assembled, the pedestal construction 14 provide vertical support for the spindles 12 which, as represented, extend into the columns 16 of the pedestal construction. As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the spindles 12 are arranged to swivel within the cavities 18 in the columns 16. To this end, a collar 25 is fixedly pinned at 29 around each spindle 12. The collars 25 rest on top of and support the lower ends of the spindles for swiveling movement within the columns 16.

Alternatively, the spindle 12 of each chair may be of reduced radial dimension and supported within a column 16 for rotational swiveling movement in a plurality of bushings mounted in the inner wall of the cavity 18 of the column.

The pedestal construction 14 is easily disassembled for storage, reassembly in a ditterent configuration, or shipping by removing the legs 24 and the cross-piece 22 from the columns 16 as will be seen. By the same token, the pedestal construction may be rapidly assembled at its location for use. Moreover, the pedestal construction may be expanded or contracted merely by adding or deleting cross-pieces 22, columns 16 and associated side legs 24.

The coupling arrangement providing the ease of assembly and expansion of the pedestal construction 14 is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Each column 16 is basically a hollow shape, the diameter of the interior cavity 18 of the column 16 being such as to provide a slidable or rotatable fit for the spindle 12 of the chair 10 or the like. Each column 16 is provided with a plurality of right-angularly displaced, generally rectangular, recesses 27 in the outer surface of its wall 19 extending upward from the lower end 20 of the column. Each recess 27 is adapted to matingly receive an end of either a side leg 24 or the cross-piece 22. The juncture of hub to leg or cross-piece is thus made to appear integral with one another. Thus positioned, the side legs 24 and the cross-piece 22 are each secured to the column 16 by a removable cylindrical pin member 28 and an Allen head screw 30, as will now be described.

A plurality of side holes 32 are provided in the column wall 19, each hole being spaced about apart and passing through the column wall 19 to terminate in a dilferent recess 27. Each side hole 32 passes through the column wall 19 substantially normal to the cavity 18 and is aligned with a blind hole 32 in an end of a side leg 24 or the cross-piece 22, as the case may be (see FIGURES 2 and 3). A pin member 28 is passed through each pair of aligned holes 32, 32' and extends into the cavity 18 of the column 16.

The legs 24 .and cross-piece 22 are firmly held to the column 16 by means of the Allen-head screws 30. Each screw 30 is spaced below but in substantially vertical alignment with an associated pin member 28 and as represented, is inclined upward from the lower end of the column 16 toward its associated pin member. To achieve this position each screw 30 passes from inside the main column cavity 18 through a diagonal side bolt 34 in the 'of the side legs 24 and cross piece 22 relative to the column 16 while the recesses 27 combine with the pin membersand angled screws to positively prevent lateral or horizontal movement of the side legs and cross-piece relative to the column.

Preferably, the diagonal side holes 34 in the column 16 project along their diagonal axes downward into the lower open end 36 of the main column cavity 18. Thus,

ing the clothing of an occupant of the heat 10 and catching mop heads or other implements used to clean the floor around the pedestal construction.

The pedestal construction 14 is extremely simple to disassemble. First the seats are removed from the column cavities 18. By placing the pedestal construction on its side, the cavity 18 of each column 16 is exposed and it is a simple matter to unscrew the screws 30. Since the pin members 28 are removable, they may be manually slipped through the open ends of the columns or knocked out through the side holes 32 after the removal of the side leg 24 and the cross-piece 22. The pedestal construction may then be stored in a compact container for later use or shipped to a new location for installation. The assembly of the pedestal construction simply reverses the foregoing process.

Preferably the column 16, as well as the side legs 24 and cross-piece 22, are aluminum, thus making the pedestal construction extremely light and easy to handle both inits assembled and disassembled form.

In view of the foregoing discussion, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple, sturdy, yet lightweight, pedestal construction which is easily assembled, disassembled, expanded and contracted to support any desired number of seating units. Moreover, the cost of producing the pedestal construction is much less than conventional pedestals for swivel chairs .thereby making it economically feasible to use large numbers of such chairs in waiting rooms and the like.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the pedestal construction of the present invention is useful in supporting table tops and the like. In such instances, the top of the cavity 18 in each column may be threaded to receive an externally threaded plug. The plug carries a top plate which may be connected to the bottom of the table top by a number of screws to secure the table top to the top of the pedestal.

Although a specific form of pedestal construction has been described in detail, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the present invention which is to be limited in scope only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An easy to assemble and disassemble, light-weight, metal, post-supporting pedestal structure, comprising:

a metal column having a substantially vertical cavity passing therethrough for receiving a post, said column including a plurality of angularly spaced pairs of vertically separated upper and lower side holes extending between said vertical cavity and an outer surface of said column adjacent a lower open end of said cavity, the upper side hole of each pair 4 lying approximately normal to said cavity and the lower side hole of each pair being readily accessible from said lower open end of said cavity and inclined from said cavity toward its associated upper side hole;

.a plurality of side members for extending from and supporting said column and each having a metal end for butting against said column and including an upper and lower end hole corresponding to and aligned with a different pair of said upper and lower side holes;

and means for releasably securing said side members to said column to produce a sturdy pedestal, said means comprising a plurality of removable metal pins slidable in said upper side holes and extend ng outward from said column into said corresponding upper end holes in said side members,

and a plurality of metal members in said lower side holes and screwing into said corresponding lower end holes in said side members.

2. An easy to assemble and disassemble, light-weight, metal, pedestal structure for supporting a plurality of posts, comprising:

a plurality of metal columns each having a substantially vertical cavity passing therethrough for receiving a post, and a plurality of angularly spaced pairs of vertically separated upper and lower side holes extending between said cavity and an outer surface of said column adjacent a lower open end of said cavity, the upper side hole of each pair lying substantially normal to said cavity and the lower side hole of each pair being readily accessible from said lower open end and inclined from said cavity toward said u per side hole; I

a cross-piece for extending between and connecting ad jacent columns and having metal ends for butting against said adjacent columns and each including an upper and .a lower end hole corresponding to and aligned with a different pair of said upper and lower side holes; I

a plurality of side members for extending from and supporting each column and each having a metal end for butting against its associated column and including an upper and a lower end hole corres onding to and aligned with a different pair of said up= per and lower side holes;

and means for releasably securing said cross-piece and said side members to said columns to provide a sturdy pedestal structure, said means comprising a plurality of removable metal pins slidable in said upper side holes and extending outward from said columns into said corresponding upper end holes in said crosspiece and said side members;

and a plurality of metal screw members in said lower side holes and screwing into said corresponding lower end holes in said cross-piece and said side members.

3. The combination of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of seats including vertical support posts for mounting in said cavities in sad columns.

4. The pedestal structure of claim 1 wherein:

said means for releasably securing said side members to said column further includes a plurality of angularly spaced recesses in the outer surface of said column extending upward from -a lower open end of said column;

each pair of upper and lower side holes extends into a different one of said recesses;

and said metal ends of said side members fit tightly into different ones of said recesses with said upper and lower end holes aligned with corresponding upper and lower side holes in said recesses.

5. The pedestal structure of claim 2 wh i said means for releasibly securing said crosspiece and said side members to said columns further includes a plurality of angularly spaced recesses in the outer surface of each column, said recesses extending upward from a lower open end of said columns;

each pair of upper and lower side holes extends into a different one of said recesses;

and said metal ends of said cross-piece and said side members fit tightly into difierent ones of said recesses with said upper and lower end holes aligned with corresponding upper and lower side holes in said recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,857 2/1880 Wilson 297-248 550,588 12/1895 Burr 297-248 860,574 7/1907 Schneider 248-1887 1,454,565 5/1923 Sanford 297-172 1,890,456 12/1932 Cushrnan 248-158 2,347,753 5/1944 Sengpiel 248-1887 2,916,241 12/1959 Bischof 248-188 2,933,276 4/1960 Schoffner 248-1887 3,151,830 10/1964 Giacornini 248-1887 3,188,033 6/1965 Groves 248-1887 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, CASMIR A. NUNBERG,

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,323 ,833 June 6, 1967 George Kasparian It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 18, after "metal" insert screw Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. AN EASY TO ASSEMBLE AND DISASSEMBLE, LIGHT-WEIGHT, METAL, POST-SUPPORTING PEDESTAL STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: A METAL COLUMN HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL CAVITY PASSING THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING A POST, SAID COLUMN INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ANGULARLY SPACED PAIRS OF VERTICALLY SEPARATED UPPER AND LOWER SIDE HOLES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL CAVITY AND AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID COLUMN ADJACENT A LOWER OPEN END OF SAID CAVITY, THE UPPER SIDE HOLE OF EACH PAIR LYING APPROXIMATELY NORMAL TO SAID CAVITY AND THE LOWER SIDE HOLE OF EACH PAIR BEING READILY ACCESSIBLE FROM SAID LOWER OPEN END OF SAID CAVITY AND INCLINED FROM SAID CAVITY TOWARD ITS ASSOCIATED UPPER SIDE HOLE; A PLURALITY OF SIDE MEMBERS FOR EXTENDING FROM AND SUPPORTING SAID COLUMN AND EACH HAVING A METAL END FOR BUTTING AGAINST SAID COLUMN AND INCLUDING AN UPPER AND LOWER END HOLE CORRESPONDING TO AND ALIGNED WITH A DIFFERENT PAIR OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER SIDE HOLES; AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID SIDE MEMBERS TO SAID COLUMN TO PRODUCE A STURDY PEDESTAL, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF REMOVABLE METAL PINS SLIDABLE IN SAID UPPER SIDE HOLES AND EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID COLUMN INTO SAID CORRESPONDING UPPER END HOLES IN SAID SIDE MEMBERS, AND A PLURALITY OF METAL MEMBERS IN SAID LOWER SIDE HOLES AND SCREWING INTO SAID CORRESPONDING LOWER END HOLES IN SAID SIDE MEMBERS. 